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Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Adorable Summer Picnic Individual Cheesecakes! Portable and Yummy!

I wanted to take something extra special for a picnic. I don't know why, but I was feeling all gushy about how much I love my family, so going further than some sandwiches, fruit and chips was the order of the day. But what?

And then I remembered something I'd seen somewhere. . .Pinterest? Another blog? I have no idea. But the idea was simple, cute, and absolutely delicious: Portable Individual Cheesecakes!

I confess I made up a recipe. . .I could have found one online, but this wasn't a complicated thing, and I was pressed for time, so I just decided to wing it. Here's what I did:

I took six small mason jars (with lids) and washed them just to be sure they were spotless.

In a mixing bowl, I made a graham cracker crust (1 square of graham cracker, 2 teaspoons of sugar and 1/2 tablespoon of melted butter per jar)

I crushed the grahams and mixed it all together into one crumbly bit of yumminess

Note: You may need more or less of each ingredient depending on the size of your particular jars.

Using the end of my wooden rolling pin, I carefully pressed the crust mixture into each jar

In another mixing bowl, I mixed a cup of cream cheese, a quarter cup of sugar and a half teaspoon of vanilla

I whipped that mixture until is was light and fluffy and divided it between the six jars

I had some berry compote left over from a pavlova I'd recently made, and that was the perfect topping! But any fruity topping will do. . .plain mixed berries, sliced strawberries, even a dollop of home made jam will work beautifully!

With the lids screwed on tightly, I tucked them in the ice chest!

Another day I might add a second layer of the cream cheese and top it off with blueberry compote to make a fourth of July-ish kind of treat, but today, this was just lovely. Everyone ooohed and ahhhed over it.